The Canadian Bar Association is adding its voice to a list of organizations calling for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
A number of groups are criticizing the Conservative majority on the special parliamentary committee on violence against Indigenous women for failing to call for such a national inquiry in a recent report.
Aimee Craft, the past chair of the CBA’s National Aboriginal Law Section, says over time it has become clear that a national inquiry is necessary because of the high proportionate numbers of Aboriginal women that continue to be affected by violence.
“In the case of missing and murdered Indigenous women, we know that violence, under reporting, the simple fact of going missing — those are situations that disproportionately affect Aboriginal women in Canada,” she says.
Craft adds the CBA is hopeful it could use its legal knowledge in assisting the government with the implementation of recommendations, should a national inquiry be called.
“Part of why the CBA decided to lend its voice is because it does have expertise in terms of the constitutional and legal mechanisms that are available to try and implement some of the recommendations.”
Both the Opposition NDP and Liberals are also calling for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Some estimates say as many 800 Indigenous women and girls have disappeared or been murdered in Canada over the past several decades.
The CBA has been calling for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women since 2012.
The organization consists of about 37,500 lawyers, law teachers and law students from across Canada.